Powerball NZ: How to Play, the Odds, and the 2026 Changes

Powerball is the add-on that turns a standard Lotto ticket into a shot at New Zealand’s biggest jackpots. For an extra $0.80 a line it lifts the top prize from Lotto’s $1 million into the tens of millions. Here’s how it works, what it costs, the real odds — and the significant changes arriving on 13 September 2026.

How Powerball works

Powerball isn’t a separate game you play on its own; it’s an optional extra added to your Lotto lines.

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When you add Powerball, you choose one extra number (currently from 1 to 10) for your ticket, on top of your six main Lotto numbers. It costs $0.80 per line and, like Lotto, requires a minimum of four lines. You can also take a Power Dip, where the lines and Powerball numbers are randomly generated for you. To win the Powerball jackpot (Division 1), your line must match all six main Lotto numbers and the Powerball. Our ticket prices guide breaks down what a typical entry costs.

The big change: 13 September 2026

This is the most important thing to know about Powerball right now. From 13 September 2026, Lotto NZ is changing how Powerball works.

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The Powerball pool expands from 1–10 to 1–14, which makes the jackpot harder to win but allows for bigger prizes: the starting jackpot rises from $4 million to $5 million and the cap from $50 million to $60 million. A new Division 8 is added, and Lotto NZ expects around 30% more Powerball winners each week across the lower divisions. Importantly, the price stays the same at $0.80 a line. The trade-off is longer odds at the top — Division 1 goes from about 1 in 38.4 million to about 1 in 53.7 million. (Strike, Keno and the Lotto bonus ball are unaffected.)

Powerball odds and prize divisions

Powerball has the same division structure as Lotto — each tier is simply the matching Lotto division with your Powerball number added.

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Because the Powerball adds a 1-in-10 layer on top, every Powerball tier is exactly ten times harder than the equivalent Lotto division — which is why the jackpot odds are around 1 in 38.4 million today. From 13 September 2026, with the pool at 1–14, those odds lengthen accordingly. For context on how these compare to the base game, see our odds of winning guide, and our bonus prize page explains how the bonus ball fits into the “plus bonus” divisions.

The jackpot and Must Be Won draws

Powerball has a guaranteed minimum jackpot and no rollover limit on the number of draws — but there is a ceiling. When the jackpot reaches its cap (currently $50 million, rising to $60 million), Lotto NZ holds a “Must Be Won” draw: if no ticket matches six numbers plus the Powerball, the whole jackpot cascades down to the next winning division, so it’s guaranteed to be paid out.

These capped draws have produced some of the country’s biggest wins. The $50 million cap has been reached and drawn several times in recent years, and New Zealand’s largest single-ticket win — $44,666,670 — came from a Powerball draw in August 2024. You can read the full list on our biggest Lotto wins page.

History of Powerball

Powerball launched in February 2001. At first players chose from just eight Powerball numbers; the pool expanded to ten in October 2007, and the minimum and maximum jackpots have grown over the years. The move to a 1–14 pool in September 2026 is the next step in that evolution.

Playing, prizes and tax

Powerball tickets can be bought at authorised Lotto outlets nationwide, or online through the official MyLotto website and app if you’re in New Zealand and 18 or over. Official play requires you to be physically in New Zealand — third-party “lottery agent” sites that advertise overseas access aren’t the official operator, so treat them with caution.

Prizes are paid as tax-free lump sums, and you have 12 months from the draw date to claim. Any income later earned from investing a prize can be taxable, and overseas players should check their own local tax rules.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general information only. It does not encourage anyone to gamble, buy lottery tickets, or spend money on any product, and it is not financial, legal or professional advice. Powerball is a game of chance with a negative expected return, and no method of selecting numbers improves your odds. Rules, odds, prices and jackpots change — including the changes noted for 13 September 2026 — so always confirm the current details with Lotto New Zealand at mylotto.co.nz before acting on anything here.

You must be 18 or over to buy or claim lottery products in New Zealand. If gambling is causing harm to you or someone you know, free 24/7 support is available from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or by texting 8006, from Safer Gambling Aotearoa, and from PGF Services on 0800 664 262. Gambling in New Zealand is regulated by the Department of Internal Affairs.

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FAQ

How much does Powerball cost in NZ?

$0.80 per line, added on top of your Lotto lines, with a minimum of four lines. This price is not changing in September 2026.

What number do I pick for Powerball?

Currently one number from 1 to 10. From 13 September 2026, the pool expands to 1 to 14.

How do I win the Powerball jackpot?

Match all six main Lotto numbers plus the Powerball number on a single line. The odds are about 1 in 38.4 million now, lengthening to about 1 in 53.7 million from 13 September 2026.

What’s changing on 13 September 2026?

The Powerball pool grows from 1–10 to 1–14, the starting jackpot rises to $5 million, the cap rises to $60 million, a new Division 8 is added, and there’ll be around 30% more winners — all for the same $0.80 price.

What is a Must Be Won draw?

When the jackpot hits its cap and isn’t won outright, the prize cascades down to the next winning division, so it must be paid out that draw.

Are Powerball winnings taxed?

No. Prizes are paid tax-free as a lump sum. Only income later earned from investing the money can be taxable.